Byron's morning starts with a meeting with the effects guys, then an hour going over a set design problem wth the production crew. And then, lunch with his star, his unknown actor, Gavin. Byron is not wasting any time: his film is at stake. He starts right away asking Gavin exactly how his relationship with Astrid went down, and what he feels for her now. "That's all kind of ...personal," Gavin says steadily, looking a bit caged. Byron sympathises, being a very private person himself. But his film is at stake. "I'm your director...you don't have anything 'personal' from me. Whatever you have in your emotional history, we can use in your acting," he says, and then orders his lunch.

Gavin gives him all the gory details about his relationship with Astrid, and how she dumped him out of nowhere, and for no real reason. "And then last night, in front of the whole crew, she told me she'd been cheating on me the whole time, with a woman," Gavin says, his voice heavy with pain & regret. Byron listens to his language & the tone of his voice & he hears his Sandman, his Dream, he knows he's got what he needs here in this young man, he just has to bring it out, get him to express it on the balcony scene without connecting it in anyway to Astrid personally. It was a big risk, putting an inexperienced unknown into the starring role, but Byron was sure from the moment he saw Gavin that he was the perfect Dream. Byron still believes this, but making it happen will be his biggest directorial challenge ever.

The challenge motivates Byron: he had begun to grow bored, during the last shoot. It's what drove to him to seek supernatural aid from Serena, a need to make his films 'more'. Byron's not sure why, but he feels somehow once he gets Gavin to unleash his deepest, raw emotions in front of the camera, he will have created a magical movie moment, the kind of thing that makes a film a 'classic' from its premiere. "I want to try shooting the balcony scene again tonight: I need to know how ready you are to get in character & stay there," he says, watching his actor's reaction. Gavin looks skyward for a moment, breathes & says, "I've been meditating all morning, I think I've put my anger away, if not completely dispersing it." Byron nods, he knows that feeling.

"I like you, Gavin, and I think you're going to be perfect in this movie, you just have to use your natural sensitivity without it actually getting to you, if you know what I mean," he tells his actor. "And take my advice on this one. Girls like Astrid are very ambitious, you can never take anything they tell you at face value, they are always acting. Don't waste your energy even thinking about her." Byron never interferes in the actors' & crews' relationships, but this is a very different circumstance. "When you are acting with her, remember that she is Death, your favorite sister. She's not Astrid. And you are not yourself anymore, either, you are Dream, an immortal."

"You'll do a great job, Gavin," Byron promises enthusiastically as they say goodbye. He will do a great job, Byron thinks, he'll just need a lot of skillful direction. Byron is going to make this happen, and when he does, it will be the best, most spectacular film ever made.....

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